Vehicle-drive



H. MCKINNON.

VEHICLE DRIVE. APPLlcmoN mju 1AN.\B.|919.

Patented July 8, 1919.

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HECTOR MGKINNON, OF EUREKA, CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE-DRIVE.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed January 18, 1919. Serial No. 271,821.

To nld whom t 'may conce/lin:

llc it known that I, Hnoron MoKINNoN, a citizen of the United States` residing at Eureka, in the county of Humboldt and State of California, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Drive, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a simple, compact and strong means whereby motion may be transmitted to the front wheels of a vehicle, such as an automobile.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

lV ith the above and other objectsin view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, w1thin the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Wj

Figure 1 shows in elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a sectional detail showing a modification.

In carrying out the invention as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 indicates a portion of the front axle of an automobile, the front axle including a U-shaped head 2 comprising an upright 3 and outwardly extended arins 4. The upright 3 of the head is supplied with a bearing 5.

The numeral G designates a U-shaped yoke, including an upright 7, and arms 8, the arms S being received between the arms 1: of the head 2, the lower arm 8 having a boss 9. The upright 7 of the yokel 6 is supplied with an inwardly projecting. loopshaped bracket 10, the inner end portionof which carries a bearing 11, the axis of which is vertically disposed. A shaft 12 passes through the arms 4 and 8 and through lthe bearing 11 and includes a head 14 engaging one of the arms 1, there being a nut on the shaft 15, engaging the other of the arms 4, the shaft thus being clamped against rotation, but being properly designated as a shaft, because it carries a rotating part hereinafter described. It will be o viens that the shaft 12 forms a pivotal connection hctween the yoke 6 and the head 2 of the front axle 2, so that the vehicle may be steered in the usual way, by shifting the front wheels.

A sleeve 16 is `journaled for rotation on the shaft 12 and is located between the bear ing 11 and the boss 9. The sleeve 16 has fixed thereto, or formed integrally therewith, a gear wheel, including integrally fashioned beveled pinions 17 and 18 which taper in opposite directions. The pinion 17 meshes into a pinion 19, located within the loop-shaped bracket 10 and secured as indicated at 20 to a stub axle 21 journaled for rotation in the upright 7 of the yoke the outer end of the stub axle carrying a ground wheel 22.

A pinion 23 meshes into the beveled pinion 18 and includes a hub 24 coacting with the upright 3 of the head 2 of the front axle 1, the pinion 23 being carried by a shaft 25 journaled for rotation in the bearing 5. A beveled pinion 26 is secured to the shaft 25 and meshes into a beveled pinion 27.5011 a shaft 28 journaled in a bearing 40 on the axle 1, there being as many of the bearings 40 as is considered expedient or necessary. The drawings show but one end of the axle 1, but it is to be understood that the opposite end of the axle is constructed as above described.

In practical operation, the drive shaft 28 is rotated from an engine or other source of power, motion being transmitted to the shaft 25 by way of the beveled pinions 27 and 26. The shaft 25 drives the beveled pinion 23. and the latter, through the instrumentality of the pinion 18, rotates the sleeve 16 on the shaft 12, and rotates the pinion 17 which is formed integrally with the pinion 18. From the pinion 17, motion is transmitted to the pinion 19, to the stub axle 2l and to the ground wheel 22.

It will be obvious from the foregoing, that the structure hereinbeforc set forth is simple in construction, of few parts of great strength, and compact.

It has been stated that the shaft 12 is fixed against rotation. This construction, however, is not mandatory. Thus, as indicated in Fig. 3, the shaft 30, corresponding to the shaft 12, may be rotatable in the parts 4 and 8, the numeral 31 designating a. double pinion, like the member 17--18 the pinion 31 having a sleeve 32 secured at 33 to the shaft 30, which is rotatable,- as aforesaid.

Although the device forming the elibjegt nmtlcrol this nppliciitipniliee boei deeerliegl :is being;v need in connection witli `he orwnrd axle of the vehicle, it i5 obvious tlrt the elrnrtlire may be need on the rear axle of the vehiee1 ne ivellA in when need on the rear Axlev` tie body of t e vehicle will be lowered :md the center of gravity will be lowered IAccordingly.

Yllnving` thuel described the invention, what is claimed is:-

l. ln e device of the class described, e vehicle Axle comprising a' head having arms; a yoke inoludin un upri ht, and arniscoactin with the rms of the axle head, the uprigit being `provided vi'ith an inwardly projecting lengt-shaped bracket having a bearing; e sha i connecting the arms of the lvolte and of the axle heed or relative pivotnl movement and passing through the bearing; n gear mounted on the shaft between one :irni und the bearin and comprising integrally foi-ined bevele( pinions; stub axle Vjourmiled inthe upright of the yoke; a ground wheel on the outer end of the stub axle; :i beveled pinion on lille inner end of the stub axle within 'the bracket and nieshing into one of the integrnlly formed pinions; a shaft joiirnaled in the/heed; e pinion on the last specified shaft'and meshing into the other ofthe'ntegrelly formed pinionsz; and Ineen;` for' driving the lest specified shaft.

Gopies ni Q. In n device ol' the clase deHcribed, :L vehicle M15; eoinprieing :i heed having arme; n yoke inclndii'ig an l'ipright, und nrms co :ifetiikig with the :irme of theexle heed, the upright being provided with :in inwardly [lirojecting loop-shaped bracket having :L benring; n elielit connecting the :urine of the yoke und the :irme of the axle heed for relntive movement, The elnift being extended through the bearing and being xed in the arme of the head; a sleeve journuled for rotation on the shaft end located between one erm of the voke and the bearing; e gear mounted on the Sleeve and comprising integrally formed beveled pinions; e stub axle jonrnuled in the upright 0f the yoke; a ground wheel on the outer eind ofthe stub axle; :1 beveled pinion on the inner end ol the Stub axle within the bracket and mesh ing into one of the integrally formed pinione; :i shaft jonroeled on the heed; a pinion on the lust specified Shaft and meeliing in to the other oi the integrally formed pinione; find nie-Lne lor driving the lest speciied shaft,

1n testimonyllnit l claim the 'foregoing ne mv own,y l here hereto :illixeil my signature in the presence of l'wo Witnesses.

HECTOR MGKINNON.

Witnesses J. R. LONE, JOHN ONEILL.

thia patent` may, he qbteined im; five cents each, by addressing me frmngiqn of aitrents,

Weghington, D. C. 

